Antonio Brown says he's finished

Twitter rant also took shots at Roethlisberger, Kraft over sex cases

Antonio Brown went on a Twitter rant on his first NFL Sunday without a team, announcing he was done for good with the league that exiled him. Even though, he claimed, it had been more lenient toward others facing allegations of sexual misconduct.

On the morning his most recent team was preparing to play without him, the fleet-footed but fleeting New England receiver said in a tweet: "Will not be playing in the NFL anymore" and took shots at Patriots owner Robert Kraft and longtime Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Kraft was arrested in connection with a prostitution and sexual trafficking sting in a Florida massage parlor and has not been punished; "Different strokes different folks clearly," Brown wrote.

Roethlisberger was suspended for four games in 2010 after he was accused of sexual assault for a second time. "4 games for Big Ben crazy world I'm done with it," Brown tweeted over a screenshot of a news article about the investigation.

Several of the tweets had been deleted by the time the Patriots kicked off against the New York Jets a couple of hours later.

One of the NFL's most prolific receivers for a decade, Brown was traded out of Pittsburgh and released in Oakland after wearing out his welcome in both cities.

2

1of2New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Elise Amendola2of2FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown (17) on the sidelines,during the first half at an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Patriots released Brown on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)Lynne Sladky

The Patriots signed him anyway, and just days later a former trainer filed a civil lawsuit in Florida accusing him of rape. He played in one game, then was released after the team learned he tried to intimidate a second woman who accused him of sexual misconduct.

Asked by CBS before the game what led him to end things, Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined to comment.

Brown's first tweet on Sunday seemed to indicate that he will fight the Patriots' decision to withhold a $9 million signing bonus. The first installment is due on Monday, and the Patriots are attempting to void the deal even though they played him in one game despite knowing about two separate accusations of sexual misconduct.

A source said Brown has not yet filed a grievance, which the NFLPA would be obligated to pursue.

He wrote, "These owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime we will see if the (at)NFLPA hold them accountable sad they can just void guarantees anytime going on 40m 2 months will see if they pay up !"

Brown also appeared to condone threats made against the Sports Illustrated writer whose article included the allegations that led to Brown's release. Over a news article describing the threats from some Patriots fans, Brown wrote, "System working effectively."

That tweet also was deleted.

Pats special teams captain Matthew Slater wished the man who was briefly his teammate well.

"I'm not the type of person who would wish ill will on anyone," he said. That's where I'm going to leave it."